Frances Pesut Family, 1908-2013 | Northern Illinois University
Administrative/Biographical History
Matt and Mary Pesut were both Croatian immigrants who married in DeKalb in 1908. They had seven children and settled in the area known as Finn Town, east side of DeKalb. Matt Pesut was born in 1884 in Austria-Hungary and his wife Mary was born in Austria-Hungary in 1899. Both Matt and Mary were apart of St. Mary’s Church in DeKalb. Matt Pesut was a member of the Croatian Fraternal Union as well. Mary Pesut passed on October 9, 1973 and Matt Pesut passed on December 13, 1975. Matt and Mary had seven children, three sons and four daughters, who were all born in DeKalb.
Their oldest son, John F. Pesut was born in 1908. John worked for United States Steel and was a member of St. Mary’s Church, the Fraternal Order or Eagles, and the Croatian Fraternal Union. John passed on January 6, 1975.
The oldest daughter, Anna, was born in 1913. She married Matt Nisas in 1935 and later had a son named Wallace. They moved to Iowa in 1977. Anna was a member of St. Mary’s Church in DeKalb and a member of the Croatian Fraternal Union. Anna passed December 27, 2001.
Catherine Pesut was the second daughter born into the Pesut family in 1915. Catherine worked for Cyclone Fence Co. of DeKalb, IL. Catherine passed on December 3, 1982.
Amanda “Manda” Pesut was the third daughter for Matt and Mary Pesut. She was born in 1916. Manda was employed for 15 years at Cyclone Fence Co. in DeKalb and 33 years at National Printing Press Co. in North Chicago. Manda was a member of St. Mary’s Church, Catholic Daughters of America, Altar and Rosary Society, Catholic Fraternal Union, DeKalb County Hospice, and a lifetime member of Friends of Barb City Manor. Manda passed June 8, 1994.
Frances “Peppy” Pesut was the youngest daughter born in 1917. Frances had worked for Cyclone Fence Company, General Electric, and at Wurlitzer Piano Factory. Frances was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church, Catholic Daughters of America No. 996, Altar and Rosary Society, Croatian Fraternal Union of America, and Friends of Barb City Manor. Frances passed on January 25, 2013.
Matt and Mary’s second son was Joseph L. Pesuit. He was born in 1910 and passed away on February 26, 1967. Sometime during his life Joseph changed the last name from Pesut to Pesuit to reflect its previous spelling. He married Frieda. He and Frieda had a daughter, Barbara, who was born in 1939 and who preceded the couple in death in 1960. They also had another daughter Joanne.
George Pesut was the youngest of the seven Pesut siblings and was born in 1928. George was a medic and tank driver in the armed forces during the Korean War. He was employed by DeKalb area construction companies after his service. George was a member of St. Mary’s Church, Croatian Fraternal Union of America, and the Croatian Catholic Union. George Pesut married Esther Faye Mason in Sycamore on July 4, 1958. George passed on February 13, 1992. His wife Esther passed May 24, 1992.
The collection also contains records for extended family such as Father J. Pesut who was a cousin to the family.
The Pesut family immigration experience was highlighted in an exhibit to honor DeKalb’s immigrants held at the DeKalb Area Women’s Center and put together by Anna Marie Convey.
Subjects (links to similar collections) Administrative Information
The Frances Pesut Family Collection consists of photographs, legal documents, funeral and financial registers, membership records, newspaper articles, and birth and death records, and handmade crafts and artifacts. The collection covers the span of 1908 to 2013. Arrangement is chronological. The beginning of the collection starts with the documentation of the Pesut family The beginning of the collection starts with the documentation of the Pesut family as a whole, and then is separated by individual family member in birth order: Matt and Mary Pesut, Anna Pesut-Nisas, John F. Pesuit, Catherine Pesut, Amanda “Manda” Pesut, Frances Pesut, Joseph L. Pesut, and George S. Pesut and wife Esther. The last few folders of the collection contains information about extended family members.
Much of the collection contains information on birth and death of each family member. There are some photographs and other information, such as association memberships and legal documents through out the collection. The collection was originally apart of an exhibit to honor immigrants